Manikeshwari Mata

Manikeswari is one ofthe popular Hindu Goddess in Orissa. There are many Manikeswari temples presentin Western and Southernpart of Orissa. Mata Manikeswari isalso known as primary deity associated with the royal family of Paralakhemundiin Gajapati. Chhatar Jatra is one of the most popoular festival of Manikeswariat Bhawanipatna.

Histery of ManikeshwariMata Mandir

The deity ofChakrakotamandala comprising present days Kalahandi, Koraput and Bastar wasManikya debi or Manikeswari around 10th century A.D. Later on Kalahandi kingHarichandra Deo struggled and died because of which his pregnant queen left forher father’s house in Gadapur, Phulbani. Some part of Phulbani was part ofMahakantara in ancient time and Chakrakota Mandala. Though capital ofChakrakotamandala is still being debated, it is clear that it has many similarwith Kamala Mandala, another ancient name of Kalahandi, Manikya Devi came toGadapur perhaps due to influence of Chakrakota Mandala. Later on, queen alongwith her son, Ramchandra Deo returned back with Manikya Debi or Manikeswari asper Kalahandi’s public request that time. Manikeswari was brought from Gadapur(Phulbani) around 1200 A.D and it was located in Kalahandi. Manikeswari wasalso popularized by Suryabansi Gajapati in 15th -16th century in Puri region.Purushottam Dev Gajapati considered Manikeswari as consort of Lord Jagannathand made a shrine of Manikeswari at Chilika, now doesn’t exist. Manikeswari isroyal family deity of Parlakhemundi. Manikeswari was installed in Bhawanipatnamuch later around 1849 AD during shifting of the capital from Junagarh. Somepeople also mention Manikeswari in Thumaul Rampur as Adipitha and Devi wasbrought to Bhawanipatna from there. Uditnarayan Deo laid the foundation of thepresent modern temple in Bhawanipatna and it was completed in 1947 byBrajamohan Deo. Manikeswari was associated with Kalahandi history as a goddessof wealth, Manik, since 10th century. There is some debate to relateManikeswari with Stambeswari temple in Asurgarh-Narla around 5-6th century aswell as Maningeeswari in Banapur in Puri. There are many Manikeswari worshipinglocations in many place of Orissa and Chhattisgarh, especially in undivideddistricts of Koraput, Phulbani-Boudh, Bolangir-Sonepur, Ganjam-Gajapati,Angul-Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sundergarh, etc due to influence by various rulers.Though Manikeswari has lots of historical significance in Orissa andChhattisgarh, it is not yet fully come to lime light.